The Red Caboose

Back in the late 1960's and 1970's when I was starting to go to more races as a teenager, there were no major places to buy racing souvenirs at the race track. Other than the museum at Darlington, and the old white out-building at Charlotte that stayed open all night, there was only one true souvenir "trailer", and it wasn't a trailer at all.

How many of you remember the old "red caboose" that was run by an elderly couple of out Deland , Fl. It was, in fact, an old railroad cabosse that had been transformed intoa trailer and was filled with racingwonderment for younger eyes. I remember they had a selection of drivers postcards, patches, hats, Racing Pictorials and many other items. I purchased a set of the PDA black and white driver posters there, and still have those rolled up and put away as of today. I bought most of my Racing Pictorials from them when I had the extra money.

The couple wentto most of the races in theSouth. I can remember talking with themas a teenager and just standing there wishing for an hour at a time. One time I even traded a bunch of David Pearson Holman-Moody postcards for several I did not have at the time.They were always friendly, and had a large selection that always involved more money than what this teenager had.

I guess as the 70's went on they just retired or sold the business, I don't know. Does anyone else remember the red caboose? I would like to know what ever happened to the elderly coupleand the caboose if anyone knows.

I have a very vague recollection of this. I remember the couple more than I do the Caboose but I do remember seeing it several times. I have no idea what happened to them but that is a part of nostalgia of the best kind to remember such kind folks as I recall those two to be.

I, too, remember the red caboose. Since I never bought any souvenirs at the track, I don't remember the couple.

You got it Robbie. I had forgotten about the Wiener King. Saw a man dancing there one night before the Southern 500 in 1971 on a flat bed truck and took off his wooden leg and started waving it over his head while dancing on the other leg. Ah, good old Darlington!

Billy, I'm sure you already have this information, but the original 11 drivers who met in August 1969 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to form the PDA all were elected to a "position" in the organization.

PRESIDENT

Richard Petty

VICE PRESIDENTS

Cale Yarborough

Elmo Langley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bobby Allison

Donnie Allison

Buddy Baker

Pete Hamilton

Charlie Glotzbach

David Pearson

LeeRoy Yarbrough

James Hylton

Interesting to note that Vice President Elmo Langley later became a NASCAR employee.

Can't remember Robbie. But Iremember they used to have a breakfast that really smelled nasty so we didn't go in there! I think they checked you for guns and knives when you went in, and if you didn't have one, they gave you one!